Pyramids - Terry Pratchett

A good introduction to the discworld stories...
Pyramids is a comedy about an assasin in training.

It was abridged for radio for broadcast on the BBC world service, I don't expect it will be repeated any time soon so it may not be so easy to track down (other than via bookshop or youtube-esq sites).

I have yet to meet someone who has heard/read/seen a Pratchett story and not liked it, so I appropriatly reccomend this as a starting point if you havent had a chance to do so yet ^_^

Approx running time = 45mins.
genre = comedy / fantasy / character.

The Goons

Wacky, Zanny, Crazy, Demented, Off-The-Wall, Insaine, Mad ...Hillarious.
- Prototype for radio sketch shows & inspirition for comedy writters & performers even now!

I cant explain, it its just MAD!!!
^_^

It was produced by the BBC but they deleted most of the recordings & most of what is available today is derived from listeners recordings or recovered from old vinyl or recording bought & traded by fans over the years... Saying that the BBC often upload an episode or two to supply the demand.

The Now Show

The only Crurrent Affairs Satire show worth listening too.
Broadcast on the BBC. (and Iplayer), written by the UKs best comedy writters & the public.

Something similar to the Jon Steward show, only better ^_^

Hancock's Half Hour - Tony Hancock

Hancock's Half Hour is a CLASSIC comedy written for stage/radio in the days where radio was the biggest medium and stage shows made 'big name satrs'.
Despite the fact that this show was written near 50 years before I was born, and around 70 years old it still sounds funny, and most of the humour is still understandable ...despite refferences to then 'current events' or terms no longer in use.
Alot of it is down to the timing and delivery of Tomy Hancock and the rest id down to the excellent comedy writting it.
The characters are excellent, unfortunatly many episodes have been lost over time... however some of the TV episodes (from the sucess of the radio show) survive and make up for the lost episodes. ...these radio episodes are also found in second hand shops on 12" vinyl and cassete (if your lucky).
The BBC frequently air repeats of random 'favourite' episodes via Radio 4 (or Radio 7 specials) & BBC Iplayer... There are also many episodes to be found in libraries across the globe!

^_^

Nebulous (BBC)

Nebulous is a BBC Sci-Fi Comedy spoof that parodys the sci-fi genre with over the top characters and unbelievable episode plots.

Even if you dont have the slightest interest in sci-fi you'll probably love it just as much, the show doesnt so much rely on sci-fi for plots as parody the genre and rely of character interaction.

The Shuttleworths

John Shuttleworth, a retired husband, entertains us each week from the comfort of his living room ...often to the irritation of his wife ^_^ ...the show features John's observation from his day (or window) and the occasional cheery song.

Its a pretty dry 'british' humour, akin to that of The Office. The pace of the show is pretty slow, so slow it took me a few episodes to get in to, but when I did I was tuning in every week.

Bleak Expectations

Bleak Expectations is one of the funniest shows on the radio at the moment, definatly one of the funniest comedy creations of recent times.

The show parodies victorian times and the stories of the period,
it is narated by the protagonist Philip 'flip top' Bin as he recounts the highly unlikely and hillarious events of his unfortunate life.

Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel

The Show was written and performed by Groucho Marx, there are 2 versions ..the original series (what survives of it) and the BBC remake (faithfully re-recorded from original scripts and recordings).

- The original series isnt to easy to track down, but there are episodes out there to find. Youtube is probably the best option at the moment.

- The BBC series is occasionaly repeated on the Iplayer (BBC 7 usualy), definaly worth a listen if you like fast-paced gags and childish word play.

The show is about a layer and his idiot side kick and their schemes to make money and dodge debts. Jokes come faster than the average brain can handle.
^_^

Elvenquest

Elvenquest is another radio comedy I have just started listeniing to ...I dont normaly listen to anything like this but when I seen, or should I say heard the cast line-up I thought I'd give it a try.

To sum it up, think;
Lord of The Rings, but with a bunch of idiots. It basically parodies the fantasy genre in its own family friendly, yet suggestive way. The real star of the show is the anti-hero, Lord Darknes ^_^

Red Dward (Radio Series)

My first introduction to Red Dward was as a child watching the TV show of the same name, later in life I began reading the Books that inspired the TV show. <-- which I also blogged about.

The radio version is basicaly the books abridged for radio and ready by the familiar voice of Rimmer (a very talented impressionist).
The characters and relationships are basicaly the same but there is a whole new dimention to the Lister character ...and his battle coping with the fact he is the last human being in existence. If you are familiar with the TV series you will definatly enjoy the radio version, if you are unfamiliar with the TV series I suggest you read my blog on that now.
^_^

Radio Comedy (Where to hear; online)

I started this blog to reccomend some great examples of made-for-radio comedy (mostly British), however I just realised that some people may read this and want to have a listen and judge for themselves so I thought I should suggest where you can get hold of them....

• local library - some city libraries have copies of BBC radio shows to loan on CD, cassete and the ocassional MP3 ...if your doesnt have any instock you can request them (UK only).
• Radio - Most of the shows I have listed are on the BBC Radio service (usually BBC7 or BBC4), you can tune in using your FM radio - stations listed where nessesary.
• Online - BBC Iplayer is a good resource (google it!), other than that try Youtube for starters! ^_^
• Download/Buy - Most of these shows are either available to buy in shops (especially BBC ones) in a variety of formats. Some particularly old shows are available on 12" vinyl in old record shops or available to download for free online. (- free downloads *reffers to shows where copyright has expired, or free for promotional purposes).

Another word before I go...
Don't fool yourself by thinking something has to have a visual element to be funny, radio comedies are often the fore runners to their TV counterpart, in many cases the radio version is actualy funnier than the TV version.
I've tried to select the best examples of radio comedy to appeal to a wide range of tastes, Enjoy!
^_^

The Masterson Inheritance

The Masterson Inheritance is an imporvised comedy show recorded infront of a live audience and created from ideas/suggestions from the audience. Its was recorded between 1993-1995, and is repeated on BBC radio 7 & BBC Radio 4 (also the IPlayer) every now and then.

It shows off the skills of its cast, namely;
Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, Phelim McDermott, Caroline Quentin, Lee Simpson &Jim Sweeney.

As for storyline? well they are imporovised innit ^_^ ..the only condition of the show is that the improvised plots must in some way be focused around the fictional family the Mastertons.


The only way I can think of to explain what this show is like to someone who has never heard an improvised show I would say its like 'Who's Line Is It Anyway inverted'... or 'uhmm very funny'.
^_^

Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show

Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show is another gem of British comedy a unique character in the cailbre or Alan Partridge, or Basil Fawlty.

The Count humour is unintentional, as in he is unsualy the bunt of the joke. Most of the laughs come from his tourettes-like rambles where he often forgets who he is talking to or what he is talking about ...mostly due to the fact he gets words mixed up and constantly tries to correct himself which distracts him from what he is talking about.

The Count proclaims to be an ex tv, film, radio and stage star althou noone can quite place him and his own memory of the events of his life are hazey at best. ...hes always on the look out for a freebie, a free drink or some kind of acting work which he somehow manages to get and inevitably destroy ^_^

There are alot of series out there available to buy, listen to online, or on the radio (BBC - also BBC Iplayer). Its a good series for listening to random episodes because it doesnt have any kind of running theme or storyline.
I've heard all currently aired episodes and I would highly recommend this show to anyone interested in comedy, even if you dont normaly listen to audio comedy.

^_^

Old Harry's Game

Old Harry's Game is a radio comedy series produced by the BBC, it is produced for and broadcast on the BBC radio service (UK & Worldwide as far as I'm aware), however it is also available on formats such as CD/Cassete/MP3 as well as broadcast on the internet via the BBC iplayer and other sources.

I have heard the entire series and a pretty big fan of the show, in fact I would put it in a list of the best radio sitcoms of all time. ...it would make a great tv show, one day I'm sure it will be.

The show is about Hell and the protagonist is Satan, and his no#1 demon Skumsporn, who he particularly detests ...primarily because of his childlike perspective of life & overzelous devotion to his master, which is puppy-like.

Old Harry's Game's Satan consumed with regret at the realisation that he will never leave hell despite his hopes, all he really wants is for things to go back to the way things used to be ...Satan is in denial. Hell has become over crowded and understaffed and then two new inhabitants arrive The professor and the worlds most repulsive human ever... and thats saying alot.

The show centers around these new inhabitants who Satan has selected to oversee the torment of personaly. Although it soon becomes aparent that it is harder to torment the professor than Satan would like.
The professor character soon becomes something of a friend or trustee, despite Satans attempts to distill fear in the Professor the Professor acts as a kind of therapist or champion for humanity.

In each episode a new lot of inhabitants arrive and Satan tries to prove how by using them as an example, how vile and worthless a species Mankind is drawing in his experiences with previous damned souls. The Proffessor then through the course of the events of the episode then rebukes Satans claims. ..Its a bit like an intellectual battle between the two perspectives, with alot of current events, historical fugures, observational humour and down right sillyness thrown in. ...with the odd theological philosophy thrown in ^_^

If you like radio sitcomes theres a good chance youll like this ...any age, although older listeners will probably get more of the historical refferences (jokes).
^_^